On the 22nd of April 1500, Pedro Cabral discovered Brazil. Cabral stayed in the new country for only 10 days. He send a ship back to tell the Portuguese KIng about his discovery. The ship also carried a letter written by the log-book keeper P?ro Vaz de Caminha. He gives a detailed, objective and factual account of the meeting with the local habitants.

Vaz de Caminha is very impressed by the Indians natural grace and beauty. The Portuguese can not find any hard evidence of gold, silver or spices, although they are willing to interpret the slightest hint as the sign of an existing El Dorado:One of them looked at the captains necklace and pointed to the land and to the necklace, like he wanted to say there was gold overthere. He also saw a silver candlestick, and pointed to the land again, like there was silver as well.

In the Dutch edition an afterword by August Willemsen is added. He gives the historic context of the Portuguese discoveries, and sums up the debate between historians who think the discovery was an accident, and those who think it was planned. In this debate the letter plays an important role and it has been analyzed extensively to prove either one of the theories. But there is still no definitive proof.